按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the little man's revolvers。 In this way none of them was shocked by
the dreadful report more than once； for the main band kept far away
and each time a new company was sent into the battle。 When the Wizard
had fired all of his twelve bullets he had caused no damage to the
enemy except to stun a few by the noise； and so he as no nearer to
victory than in the beginning of the fray。
〃What shall we do now？〃 asked Dorothy； anxiously。
〃Let's yellall together；〃 said Zeb。
〃And fight at the same time；〃 added the Wizard。 〃We will get near
Jim； so that he can help us； and each one must take some weapon and do
the best he can。 I'll use my sword； although it isn't much account in
this affair。 Dorothy must take her parasol and open it suddenly when
the wooden folks attack her。 I haven't anything for you； Zeb。〃
〃I'll use the king；〃 said the boy； and pulled his prisoner out of the
buggy。 The bound Gargoyle's arms extended far out beyond its head；
so by grasping its wrists Zeb found the king made a very good club。
The boy was strong for one of his years； having always worked upon a farm；
so he was likely to prove more dangerous to the enemy than the Wizard。
When the next company of Gargoyles advanced； our adventurers began
yelling as if they had gone mad。 Even the kitten gave a dreadfully
shrill scream and at the same time Jim the cab…horse neighed loudly。
This daunted the enemy for a time； but the defenders were soon out of
breath。 Perceiving this； as well as the fact that there were no more
of the awful 〃bangs〃 to come from the revolvers； the Gargoyles advanced
in a swarm as thick as bees； so that the air was filled with them。
Dorothy squatted upon the ground and put up her parasol； which nearly
covered her and proved a great protection。 The Wizard's sword…blade
snapped into a dozen pieces at the first blow he struck against the
wooden people。 Zeb pounded away with the Gargoyle he was using as a
club until he had knocked down dozens of foes； but at the last they
clustered so thickly about him that he no longer had room in which to
swing his arms。 The horse performed some wonderful kicking and even
Eureka assisted when she leaped bodily upon the Gargoyles and
scratched and bit at them like a wild…cat。
But all this bravery amounted to nothing at all。 The wooden things
wound their long arms around Zeb and the Wizard and held them fast。
Dorothy was captured in the same way； and numbers of the Gargoyles
clung to Jim's legs； so weighting him down that the poor beast was
helpless。 Eureka made a desperate dash to escape and scampered along
the ground like a streak； but a grinning Gargoyle flew after her and
grabbed her before she had gone very far。
All of them expected nothing less than instant death； but to their
surprise the wooden creatures flew into the air with them and bore
them far away； over miles and miles of wooden country； until they came
to a wooden city。 The houses of this city had many corners； being
square and six…sided and eight…sided。 They were tower…like in shape
and the best of them seemed old and weather…worn； yet all were strong
and substantial。
To one of these houses which had neither doors nor windows； but only
one broad opening far up underneath the roof； the prisoners were
brought by their captors。 The Gargoyles roughly pushed them into the
opening； where there was a platform； and then flew away and left them。
As they had no wings the strangers could not fly away； and if they
jumped down from such a height they would surely be killed。 The
creatures had sense enough to reason that way； and the only mistake
they made was in supposing the earth people were unable to overcome
such ordinary difficulties。
Jim was brought with the others； although it took a good many
Gargoyles to carry the big beast through the air and land him on the
high platform； and the buggy was thrust in after him because it
belonged to the party and the wooden folks had no idea what it was
used for or whether it was alive or not。 When Eureka's captor had
thrown the kitten after the others the last Gargoyle silently
disappeared； leaving our friends to breathe freely once more。
〃What an awful fight！〃 said Dorothy； catching her breath in little gasps。
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 purred Eureka； smoothing her ruffled fur with her
paw； 〃we didn't manage to hurt anybody； and nobody managed to hurt us。〃
〃Thank goodness we are together again； even if we are prisoners；〃
sighed the little girl。
〃I wonder why they didn't kill us on the spot；〃 remarked Zeb； who had
lost his king in the struggle。
〃They are probably keeping us for some ceremony；〃 the Wizard answered；
reflectively； 〃but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead as
possible in a short time。〃
〃As dead as poss'ble would be pretty dead； wouldn't it？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃Yes； my dear。 But we have no need to worry about that just now。 Let
us examine our prison and see what it is like。〃
The space underneath the roof； where they stood； permitted them to see
on all sides of the tall building； and they looked with much curiosity
at the city spread out beneath them。 Everything visible was made of
wood； and the scene seemed stiff and extremely unnatural。
From their platform a stair descended into the house； and the children
and the Wizard explored it after lighting a lantern to show them the
way。 Several stories of empty rooms rewarded their search； but
nothing more； so after a time they came back to the platform again。
Had there been any doors or windows in the lower rooms； or had not the
boards of the house been so thick and stout； escape could have been
easy； but to remain down below was like being in a cellar or the hold
of a ship； and they did not like the darkness or the damp smell。
In this country； as in all others they had visited underneath the
earth's surface； there was no night； a constant and strong light
coming from some unknown source。 Looking out； they could see into
some of the houses near them； where there were open windows in
abundance； and were able to mark the forms of the wooden Gargoyles
moving about in their dwellings。
〃This seems to be their time of rest；〃 observed the Wizard。
〃All people need rest； even if they are made of wood； and as
there is no night here they select a certain time of the day
in which to sleep or doze。〃
〃I feel sleepy myself；〃 remarked Zeb； yawning。
〃Why； where's Eureka？〃 cried Dorothy； suddenly。
They all looked around； but the kitten was no place to be seen。
〃She's gone out for a walk；〃 said Jim； gruffly。
〃Where？ On the roof？〃 asked the girl。
〃No； she just dug her claws into the wood and climbed down the sides
of this house to the ground。〃
〃She couldn't climb DOWN； Jim；〃 said Dorothy。 〃To climb means to go up。〃
〃Who said so？〃 demanded the horse。
〃My school…teacher said so； and she knows a lot； Jim。〃
〃To 'climb